PACE urges Poroshenko, Putin to discuss exchange of captives without intermediaries

The PACE delegates signed a declaration giving Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjorn Jagland the mandate to ensure the dialogue between the Presidents of Ukraine and Russia on prisoner exchange without intermediaries. This was reported by Vira Savchenko, sister of Ukrainian pilot and MP Nadiya Savchenko, who is held in a Russian jail. As we have reported, Savhcenko is in trial for alleged involvement in the death of two Russian journalists covering the eastern Ukraine conflict, in June 2014. She denies these charges, saying she was kidnapped before the reporters’ deaths, and spirited into Russia where she has been held for 18 months now. She was elected in absentia to Ukrainian parliament and delegated to PACE.